BYU football: Scheduling November games will continue to be tough for the Cougars

Trojans sign up their newest rival, against the premise of this article. Maybe
the Cougs will make the Coliseum their home away from home if talks with the
Christmas Bowl continue.

WiscougarfanRiver Falls, WI

June 26, 2013 11:11 a.m.

Great news today regarding the scheduling of November games... two future
November games against USC! Will Utah ever get the chance to play SC in
November? I doubt it, that time is reserved for rivalry games so they'll
have to continue playing WSU and Colorado in November. Go Cougs!

UteologyEast Salt Lake City, Utah

June 25, 2013 6:34 p.m.

@SnackThere's nothing wrong with putting a goal on a t-shirt.
BYU's unrealized quest still resulted in a #25/#21 10-3 season that was
better than 11 of Utah's 15 BCS era seasons.

-------------

Preseason goals on t-shirts is as cool as celebrating a 1-0 start at
airports:

"PROVO — People danced in the streets. They
hugged perfect strangers. They lit off fireworks. And in general, they
celebrated and celebrated and celebrated."

Being exposed as a BCS
fraud by #7 TCU and #2 Utah is one thing but getting exposed by a 7-5 Arizona in
your own bowl game is priceless. I'm willing to bet that 2008 Cougar team
would have been OWNED by 12 of the last 15 Ute teams.

Snack PACOlympus Cove, Utah

June 25, 2013 3:48 p.m.

Uteology

"True success is defined on how you finish:"

Unless you live under that crimson bubble on the hill, true success is
defined by how successful you are for the ENTIRE season, not just for one game
at the end of the season.

A Top 25 team losing to an even better Top
25 team in a bowl is still MUCH BETTER than a mediocre unranked team beating
another mediocre unranked team in a bowl.

All Top 25 Rankings are
BETTER than being unranked.

A quest is a goal, not an accomplishment.

There's nothing wrong with putting a goal on a t-shirt.
BYU's unrealized quest still resulted in a #25/#21 10-3 season that was
better than 11 of Utah's 15 BCS era seasons.

Utah does have two
Top 10 finishes during the BCS era, but BYU has three Top 15 finishes, and leads
Utah 5-4 in total Top 25 finishes.

Other teams with bowl winning percentage from .667 to
1.000: Toledo, South Florida, Miami (Ohio), Marshall, New Mexico State, Idaho.
What do these schools have in common with Utah? Far fewer bowl appearances.

-------------

What do they NOT have in common with Utah?

* Two top 4 rankings* 2 BCS bowl wins (#25 Pitt and #6 Bama)* Highest winning percentage vs BCS teams as a mid-major* Talent (Utah
has more NFL players)* Ranked #10 program according to CBS Sports over the
last decade

Number of bowl appearances means nothing if you
don't consider the SOS.

You compared your bowl winning
percentage to Texas and Notre Dame and now to Oregon? The Ducks has played about
9 ranked bowl opponents in the BCS era alone and BYU 3.

I compared
Utah and BYU Bowl SOS during the BCS era, with 11 bowls each. The data shows
that BYU played a weaker bowl schedule compared to Utah, yet finished a
"bottom feeder" 6-5.

WiscougarfanRiver Falls, WI

June 25, 2013 1:52 p.m.

RE: Uteology

"FYI Texas, Notre Dame, and Florida also don't
play in New Mexico type bowls against teams like UTEP."

If
you’d like a more appropriate comparison, here’s a list of teams
generally ranked close to BYU but that have lower all-time bowl winning
percentages: Virginia Tech (.360), Texas Tech (.367), Arkansas (.372), Oregon
(.400), Texas A&M (.424). What do all these teams have in common?
They’ve all played in at least 25 bowl games, approximately double the
number Utah has played in. BYU ranks 26th in all-time bowl appearances while
Utah ranks 52nd, right behind Fresno State, Southern Miss, Houston, Baylor,
Tulsa, and Virginia.

Other teams with bowl winning percentage from
.667 to 1.000: Toledo, South Florida, Miami (Ohio), Marshall, New Mexico State,
Idaho. What do these schools have in common with Utah? Far fewer bowl
appearances.

And say what you will about BYU's "teams like
UTEP" bowl opponents, just remember that 5 of the last 8 were PAC 12 teams.

UteologyEast Salt Lake City, Utah

June 25, 2013 1:27 p.m.

@Uteanymous: "Success is defined by how you finish, NOT by how your
opponents finish."

True success is defined on how you finish:

Utah 10-1BYU 6-5

"Bottom line is this, how many BYU
and Utah bowl teams were good enough to finish in the AP Top 25?"

Ironically, I
don't think there is a single Ute that will print a "Quest" t-shirt
for what BYU accomplished during the BCS era.

Edwards era is over,
you guys need to move on. Just like the top in-state recruits have from BYU.

UteologyEast Salt Lake City, Utah

June 25, 2013 12:57 p.m.

@Wiscougarfan

I don't believe that diminishes BYU's 6-5
(.545) record... which is also very impressive, and certainly a step in the
right direction for BYU (whose prior bowl record was pretty horrible).

---------

Huh?

Sorry 5-7 is "bottom feeder"
according to BYU fans, so 6-5 is not that much better.

FYI Texas,
Notre Dame, and Florida also don't play in New Mexico type bowls against
teams like UTEP.

Correction: BYU's BCS era Bowl SOS:

27% vs top 2536% vs top 3055% vs top 35

So playing a
weaker schedule BYU is 6-5.

P.S. Wiscougarfan, you might not know
this, but in a free society one can post anywhere.

shortsPayson, UT

June 25, 2013 10:08 a.m.

@Howard S.Taylorsville, UT

When Utah plays the big boys with a
winning record Utah has a losing record. Utah has played more bad BCS teams
then BYU. What is your point.

Snack PACOlympus Cove, Utah

June 25, 2013 9:53 a.m.

Uteanymous

"Success is defined by how you finish, NOT by how your
opponents finish."

Are you saying that the Utes should abandon
their plans to build a SOS wing for their Hall of Fame closet?

btw,

Of BYU's 31 bowl opponents, 16 have finished in the AP Top 25,
52%.Of Utah's 17 bowl opponents, only 5 have finished in the AP Top
25, 29%.

BYU has played almost as many AP ranked bowl opponents as
Utah has played bowls.

BYU's SOS wing would dwarf Utah's :)

UteanymousSalt Lake City, Utah

June 25, 2013 9:21 a.m.

Uteology

Gotta love how Utah fans have to slice and dice records in
order to make the Utes SEEM better than they actually are. Bottom line is this,
how many BYU and Utah bowl teams were good enough to finish in the AP Top 25?

Success is defined by how you finish, NOT by how your
opponents finish.

I think that should put the actual accomplishments
smack to rest.

WiscougarfanRiver Falls, WI

June 25, 2013 8:52 a.m.

RE: Uteology

I have no problem conceding that Utah's bowl record
over the last fifteen years is amazing. I only posted earlier because you
weren't telling the whole story (they've played a few pathetic
opponents in addition to a few great ones).

I don't believe
that diminishes BYU's 6-5 (.545) record... which is also very impressive,
and certainly a step in the right direction for BYU (whose prior bowl record was
pretty horrible). FYI, nearly all PAC 12 teams, as well as teams like Notre
Dame, Texas, and Florida have bowl winning percentages less than .545. Both BYU
and Utah are on the right track.

P.S. Uteology, you might not know
this, but you're posting on a BYU comment board.

Beck to HarlineProvo, UT

June 25, 2013 2:51 a.m.

@#1 SLC Sports Fan

Is that a legitimate argument? Sounds a whole lot
like Lucifer's plan to me.....take football away...take the player's
agency to choose away...force them to not play on Sundays. That's a very
deceptive solution.

Saying BYU is irrelevant is just plain ignorant
any way you spin it, as well.

Go Cougs!Go Utes! (Except in
September)

UteologyEast Salt Lake City, Utah

June 24, 2013 11:59 p.m.

FACT: During the BCS era, 36% of Utah’s bowl opponents were ranked in the
AP top 25 and 55% in the AP top 30:

I feel bad about my comment above. I am thrilled to go to Southbend in November.

I do complain because I am a fan that wants BYU in a big conference.
We are certainly deserving of it.

Funny, though many think any
complainers about being Indy must be Utah fans on the BYU article.

UteologyEast Salt Lake City, Utah

June 24, 2013 11:00 p.m.

@Justmythoughts

@azute

Yes..it is a good thing Utah dumped
BYU to play Freso State and that fertile California recruiting ground.....oh
wait ... I guess playing UCLA, USC, Cal, and Stanford didn't give them
enough California exposure......please

-----------

That's not how recruiting works.

"By far the most fertile
recruiting ground for all schools is California. The current [PAC-10] full round
robin means each year both schools in the state of Oregon and the state of
Washington will travel to Southern California to play either USC or UCLA and
northern California to play Cal or Stanford... Anything that shakes up that
arrangement is going to do a lot of harm to the Pacific Northwest
schools"

Utah is following that same model, two road games in
California: one in the South and one North.

The South road game is
taken care of each year USC/UCLA.

The North game was played in 2011
(@Cali) but no games in 2012 and 2013. In 2014 we play @Stanford. From what I
could find, in 2015 we have no PAC-12 North Cali game, thus @Fresno State.

UteologyEast Salt Lake City, Utah

June 24, 2013 10:36 p.m.

@Wiscougarfan

Seriously? BYU fans talking about SOS in the post
season?

During the BCS era, 36% of Utah’s bowl teams were
ranked in the AP top 25 and 55% in the AP top 30.... record 10-1.

Now
your turn, during the BCS era can you tell us why BYU went 6-5? BYU must have
played some tough competition?

WACPaddingOurSchedulepocatello, ID

June 24, 2013 10:08 p.m.

Jeff29Draper, UTYes, Utah fans, you win. Utah has an easier time
scheduling than BYU (it might have something to do with the fact that the U has
9 of their games scheduled for them).

Here's the difference: PAC
12 schools come to Salt Lake because they HAVE to; anyone who comes to Provo
(including PAC 12 schools) does so because they WANT to.

__________

LOL that's priceless!Have you seen some of
the contract agreements BYU has made lately? BYU schedules 4 for 2 because they
HAVE to!!!!

BYU has to go to South Bend because the HAVE to. ND goes
to Provo because they HAVE to. Even though its less times than BYU going to
South Bend. Yesserrreee, BYU ends up on the losing end before the game is even
played!

Teams like Idaho St, and their new band of independent
buddies WANT to play in Provo. They get a payout and play on TV.

So
you got Texas to play at LES. Big deal. Wyoming got Texas to play in Laramie a
few years ago.

Razzle2Bluffdale, UT

June 24, 2013 9:26 p.m.

No more late night games in November!Wait, no more home games in November?

Ronald UharrietSWun City, Ca.

June 24, 2013 7:58 p.m.

THIS IS JUST A SUGGESTION:

When you talk about what our players do,
that is good during a game, please talk about the games that we play against
like ND, Wisconsin, Ga Tec. Va., Boise State, Utah, Texas Longhorns, Colorado
State, Washington State, and other Nationally respected teams.

When
you talk about what our players do vs Idaho, Idaho State, New Mexico and the
like, it really doesn't mean anything and therefore it isn't worth the
time to read about it, when you talk about what we do vs. teams that 100 out of
the 124 teams can beat.

#1 SLC Sports FanSalt Lake City, UT

June 24, 2013 7:39 p.m.

This merely illustrates why the brethren should do the right thing and just drop
the football program at BYU. Conference realignment over the past 3 years has
dictated the BYU program is irrelevant, unwanted & undesirable and will
likely fade into history and be just like Rice University, Tulane University, a
program with a more than half empty big stadium 5-6 Sautrdays each fall.
Rick's College gave up athletics completely to become BYU-Idaho, why not
"Rexburgize" the football program in Provo at the very least? That very
least is it makes no sense whatsoever for a religious school that teaches
Sabbath Day Observance to be preparing players for that great Sunday
descecrating league known as the NFL.

ekuteLayton, UT

June 24, 2013 7:18 p.m.

Is Missouri bragging about *1984 again?

Jeff29Draper, UT

June 24, 2013 7:13 p.m.

Yes, Utah fans, you win. Utah has an easier time scheduling than BYU (it might
have something to do with the fact that the U has 9 of their games scheduled for
them).

Here's the difference: PAC 12 schools come to Salt Lake
because they HAVE to; anyone who comes to Provo (including PAC 12 schools) does
so because they WANT to.

Missouri loves BYULebanon, MO

June 24, 2013 5:43 p.m.

The Ute trolls commenting on this article remind me of the guys who love to
bring up the fact that they own a corvette..... Even though their corvette is
all rusted out, dented up and has the muffler dragging on the ground. They think
it is imprssive to say they own a corvette, but everyone else thinks that until
they have done something to improve it, their car is just another rustbucket no
better than the rusted out cars parked next to it.

BYU Is headed in
the right direction. They have a great schedule, they have players getting
national attention for all the right reasons and the fans get to watch the games
all over the country. Scheduling November games will be tough we all know it.
Not worried about it. I am sure things will work out fine. Go Cougars!

AZUTE1Mesa, AZ

June 24, 2013 5:31 p.m.

@Justmythoughts--

"@azute

Yes..it is a good thing Utah
dumped BYU to play Freso State and that fertile California recruiting
ground.....oh wait ... I guess playing UCLA, USC, Cal, and Stanford didn't
give them enough California exposure......please"

That breeze you
felt fly by overhead....That's correct!

My relief that a genuine
recruiting-guru has FINALLY surfaced on these threads, certainly it's
palpable, correct?

In all honesty, I'm utterly speechless right
now....WOW!

AZUTE1Mesa, AZ

June 24, 2013 5:23 p.m.

wiscougarfan--

"And don't forget the one you lost was a
shell-shacking from another WAC team 26-3 (to BSU in 2010)."

2010
BSU was a well-oiled machine led by KM, nothing resembling 2012 BSU, which was
breaking-in virtually an entirely brand-new O and had ZERO PK, but certainly
resembling 2003 BSU which, BTW, administered a freaking doozy of a beating upon
2-Star byu on 2-Star byu's homefield, 50-12! OUCH!

2010
BSU's lone defeat was in an OT-thriller by a mere 3-PTS at then #19 UNR,
costing them yet another BCS Bowl Game they were this close to it, something
2-Star byu's never even remotely sniffed, and beat the following schools
during the season, in addition to JW-less #19 UTAH which, BTW, had just barely
secured their annual gimme W over 2-Star byu in their previous game--

#10 VT back there on The East Coast, 33-30; #24 OSU, 37-24 & usu,
50-14.

They put-up 42 on 1 OPP/48-59 on 8 OPPs, finishing a
dominating overall season at 12-1 & ranked #9 in the final BCS poll [UNR
#11/VT #16]. Nice try!

poymanLincoln City, OR

June 24, 2013 5:12 p.m.

It's okay with me if we don't play big boys in November... Idaho,
Idaho State, Utah, Weber State , Colorado are all okay... We need to just make
sure that we win our September and October games...

BYU sports on TV in MissouriLebanon, MO

June 24, 2013 5:11 p.m.

Until the benefits of playing BYU in November outweigh the risks of losing to
BYU in November, November games will be a tough sell. If you look at the other
Independent programs apart from Notre Dame, there are few traditionally strong
teams playing independents in November. I am sure BYU will get to where the
November Games are just as good as earlier in the season. It will just take
some time.

worfMcallen, TX

June 24, 2013 4:46 p.m.

When the going gets tough,--the tough gets going!

Independence is
great! Go Cougs!

Howard S.Taylorsville, UT

June 24, 2013 4:38 p.m.

@jimmypage

Parents basement?

Pretty close... pretty
close...

But here is the harsh reality for Mr. Jimmypage and the
Cougar Nation... whether it comes from Grandma's basement or from Tom
Holmoe himself... the truth hurts just the same.

JohnInSLCCottonwood Heights, UT

June 24, 2013 4:36 p.m.

"Talk to me when you been relevant for 40-50 years"

NightOwl:

Okay, I'll play.

Every time a y
"fan" says something like that, they are REALLY talking about half of
LaVell's seasons and half of Roscoe's seasons, which they want to
compare to Utah's down decade or two and to last season. But when actually
looking at 50 year blocks, Utah got to relevance first.

From 1922
through the 1971 season, BYU's record was 173-235-26, a 42% winning record,
1 conference championship and no bowl games.

During that same time
period, Utah's record was 296-167-21, a 64% winning record, 19 conference
championships, and 3 bowl games.

Yes, that 1984 y team that fell into
a national championship is hard for Ute fans to take. But that was the only
undefeated season the y has had in its history. Utah has had 4 in since 1922, 2
in the last 10 years.

JustmythoughtsProvo, UT

June 24, 2013 4:20 p.m.

@azute

Yes..it is a good thing Utah dumped BYU to play Freso State
and that fertile California recruiting ground.....oh wait ... I guess playing
UCLA, USC, Cal, and Stanford didn't give them enough California
exposure......please

Riverton CougarRiverton, UT

June 24, 2013 4:11 p.m.

"4. Utah shouldn't enhance the strength of BYU's schedule by
granting them a BCS game..."

Yet you laugh and make fun when BYU
schedules teams like Virginia, West Virginia, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Ole Miss,
etc. You guys have such a double standard. When BYU schedules a "BCS"
team with a losing record, it lowers BYU's strength of schedule. However,
when BYU schedules Utah (also a "BCS" team with a losing record), it
"enhances the strength of BYU's schedule by granting them a BCS
game". So, which is it?

By the way, at least BYU can beat a 2-10
team.

And since you guys say head-to-head record proves who is
better, then BYU is better than Texas and Oklahoma. Thanks for bestowing such
honors upon us.

It also seems to Ute fans as if all football history
matters EXCEPT from 1979-2001.

WiscougarfanRiver Falls, WI

June 24, 2013 3:16 p.m.

RE: Naval Vet

"Remind us all how many of those impressive 10 bowl
wins were big name bowls against top competition?"

And here are
some of the Bowl games you left off your 10-year list

Utah squeaked
by WAC powerhouse Fresno State 17-16 in the 1999 Las Vegas BowlAlso
squeezed by Independent Navy 35-32 in the 2007 Poinsettia BowlThey beat
Conference USA Tulsa in the 2006 in the Armed Forces Bowl (25-13)And
don't forget the one you lost was a shell-shacking from another WAC team
26-3 (to BSU in 2010).

AZUTE1Mesa, AZ

June 24, 2013 3:11 p.m.

Blue Cougar--

"But yes, the Utes "dumped" BYU for Fresno
State in their effort to reach a bowl game."

Please allow me to
break-down what in fact took place--

UTAH strategically-targeted FSU
exclusively due to recruiting-advantages. Fertile recruiting-ground, extra-game
before family/friends, since 2015 has us at USC/UCLA at home, w/2-YR
rotating-schedule still pending, although a game against Stanford would be at
home, as well. Besides, FSU is a competitive-team, whereas it's clearly
become anti-climatic against byu in terms of the outcome being a W for us,
annually. Yaaaaaaaawn!

BTW, byu absolutely needed Weber State,
Hawaii, Idaho and NMSU in 2012, in order to ensure bowl-eligibility, since
it's common knowledge that, other than struggling mightily to beat usu by
3-PTS at home, byu doesn't beat good teams, particularly with SJSU
misbehaving and not laying-down/playing bottom-feeder as expected when initially
scheduled. Instead, they happened to be good, which of course virtually always
equates to yet another L for byu!

FYI--During this current BCS Era,
UTAH's 10-1 in bowl games, while byu's struggling at 6-5! Good times!

Beck to HarlineProvo, UT

June 24, 2013 1:55 p.m.

@Naval Vet

Please don't dwell on the past. It's something
BYU fans are criticized of all the time....but I guess if the present isn't
worth bragging about, you can just brag about the past. Just stick to the
Indy-WACer/PAC12/Nobody wants to play BYU insults. Those resonate the most with
BYU fans---not talking about the past. Talking about the past with BYU fans will
just bring up 1984...and we all know how much Utah fans hate 1984...

Go Cougs!Go Utes! (Except in Provo this September)

WACPaddingOurSchedulepocatello, ID

June 24, 2013 1:50 p.m.

Reno Cougs Fan 68Reno, NVNightOwlAmerica,

Remind us all
how many of those impressive 10 bowl wins were big name bowls against top
competition? The answer is only one!!! By the way for all you keeping track, the
win lose total for the Holy War since 1972 is BYU 26 wins and Utah 14 wins!!!

_______

Keeping track? LOL! You are not keeping track of very
much.

Howard S.Taylorsville, UT

June 24, 2013 1:46 p.m.

@Blue Cougar

Utah didn't dump BYU for Fresno.

Utah
dumped BYU for a combination of the following reason:

1. They can...
and they hold all the negotiating leverage...2. Continuing to beat BYU
annually does nothing to help Utah achieve its PAC 12 goals...3. Utah
doesn't need a game with BYU...4. Utah shouldn't enhance the
strength of BYU's schedule by granting them a BCS game...

Elmer FuddSandy, Utah

June 24, 2013 1:38 p.m.

@ Reno Cougs Fan 68

"Remind us all how many of those impressive
10 bowl wins were big name bowls against top competition? The answer is only
one!!! By the way for all you keeping track, the win lose total for the Holy War
since 1972 is BYU 26 wins and Utah 14 wins!!!"

From what I could find, as of today not a single BCS team has been
willing to commit to playing at LES in November. So what's more likely the
type teams going to be for TBA? Teams like Ohio State/Florida or Idaho
State/SMU?

Blue CougarOak Harbor, WA

June 24, 2013 1:04 p.m.

@Howard S. I'm sorry Howard, I didn't mean to draw you into the
conversation. When I made my comments I was speaking to the other adults. But
yes, the Utes "dumped" BYU for Fresno State in their effort to reach a
bowl game.

Naval VetPhiladelphia, PA

June 24, 2013 1:02 p.m.

Reno Indy-WAC Fan 68:

"Remind us all how many of those impressive
10 bowl wins were big name bowls against top competition?"

Remind us all how many of those impressive 10 bowl
wins were big name bowls against top competition? The answer is only one!!! By
the way for all you keeping track, the win lose total for the Holy War since
1972 is BYU 26 wins and Utah 14 wins!!!

Go Cougs!!!Go Utes!!!

Naval VetPhiladelphia, PA

June 24, 2013 12:03 p.m.

NightOwlAmerica:

"Everyone know that BYU would have been in the
PAC 10 or Big 12 in the 1980's if not for their religious affiliation and
associated limitations."

Actually, everybody knows that's
just the Indy-WACer's unfounded frantic and emotional fantasy, designed to
excuse their failure to do what their hated big brother did.

Utah...

(1) Was the "original" BCS buster. Little brother
never even made the cut.(2) Was the 1st non-AQ team to bust multiple BCS
bowl games. Little brother just watched BSU and TCU accomplish what Utah could
do, but they themselves could not.(3) Got invited to your 1st choice of
conferences; the very conference you all had been pretending to have been in
super-secret negotiations...for about 3 decades. Little brother not only was
never considered for the Pac-10, but they were "Fully Rejected" by their
2nd choice (Big 12), and only invited to join the worst BCS league -- the soon
to be midmajor Big East/AAC -- because the 2-time BCS bowl busting Broncos
bullied the Big East into extending one.

NightOwlAmericaSALEM, OR

June 24, 2013 11:21 a.m.

spokaloo said:

"The Utah fans piling on BYU because of the
November scheduling challenges is hilarious. Yes, it is tough for BYU to
schedule as one of the few independents. It would however be impossible for
Utah. They could not go independent. Not enough clout or fan base. I know you
don't have to worry about it. You got invited to the PAC 12 due to lack of
options.

Everyone know that BYU would have been in the PAC 10 or Big
12 in the 1980's if not for their religious affiliation and associated
limitations. Utah fans hang their hat on 4-5 good seasons in their history. Talk
to me when you been relevant for 40-50 years (see BYU's 5th highest winning
percentage of any team since 1970, and 13th highest average ranking of any team
since 1970)."

Well here we are. 40-50 years later and BYU is
still irrelevant. No official conference invite, just rumors.BYU went
indie due to lack of options.FYI - Utah has the highest bowl winning
percentage over ten games of any team in the country.

VladhagenSalt Lake City, UT

June 24, 2013 11:19 a.m.

It must be a very slow day at the pumps to get such a response from the BYU
bashing party.

Howard S.Taylorsville, UT

June 24, 2013 11:18 a.m.

@Cousndawgs

Happy to be of service... and if an objective view helps
Cougar Nation see through the fog of BYU's media spin, then so much the
better.

NightOwlAmericaSALEM, OR

June 24, 2013 11:17 a.m.

BryceDeMann said:

"Howard S, Are you being serious about that
question? With the help espn gives BYU they are on national television all
throughout the year even when they play the no name teams. Other teams in this
state can play USC, Wisconsin, UCLA, Washington, etc and the best they can do is
a regional root sports broadcast. Better to be the team complaining about
blowing out n names, than to be the cellar dweller no name getting pounded by
USC, Oregon, Stanford. Utah should have a great november schedule. But no one
outside Salt Lake will even notice."

I think you and some other
BYU fans her need to reread the article title.

UteanymousSalt Lake City, Utah

June 24, 2013 11:14 a.m.

christy

Who can forget that EPIC game with Colorado late in the
season!

CougFaninTXFrisco, TX

June 24, 2013 11:12 a.m.

@Chris B - "Who can forget that EPIC game with Idaho late in the
season!"

At least we won our EPIC game. But none of us can
forget the Utes EPIC game with Colorado late in 2011. Didn't the Vandals
and Buffs have the same record going into those EPIC games?

Second, why would
wins against the big boys lead to bigger games in November? The big boys
already have big games to play in November... they don't need mid-major
Indy BYU.

Oh, and if by dodging you mean "dumping" then I see
your point.

Spokane UteSpokane, WA

June 24, 2013 10:49 a.m.

BYU has put together a very nice, and very tough schedule this year. It will be
interesting to see how they fare. It seems like Army or Navy might be worth
approaching for November games. I beleive both are independents.

Cougsndawgs West Point , UT

June 24, 2013 10:22 a.m.

Howie:I would again like to thank you and AZUTE, ekute, Naval, and our
other ute friends for your continual obsession with BYU and all things BYU does,
says, resembles, and exemplifies. Your incessant denial that BYU means anything
to U and that you care more about bowls, conference wins etc, while at the same
time posting on just about every BYU article available is a great source of
entertainment for us, and always gives me a good laugh to start the day. Keep it
up.

Blue CougarOak Harbor, WA

June 24, 2013 10:05 a.m.

I love the BYU schedule! It's the best we've ever had. As a BYU Alum
in Washington State I'll be able to watch nearly all of the football games,
which, unfortunately, didn't happen when we were in the Mountain West.
Much of our future schedule will depend on how well our team plays. Victories,
even narrow victories, over big name programs will increase the number of fans
watching our team play. This, in turn, will lead to better broadcast times and
bigger games in November. As for the Utes, I hope they have a great season
against everyone but BYU. But after reading the constant barrage of unnecessary
negativity from some Ute fans, I'm kind of glad that they're dodging
us for a couple of years.

Chris BSalt Lake City, UT

June 24, 2013 10:00 a.m.

Who can forget that EPIC game with Idaho late in the season!

UteanymousSalt Lake City, Utah

June 24, 2013 9:54 a.m.

howie

BYU's TV coverage included FIVE Top 25 teams including a
team that played in the BCS championship game and a bowl game.

Utah's TV coverage included TWO Top 25 teams and no bowl game.

Luckily for U, not much of your 7-loss, lackluster schedule was nationally
televised.

anti BCSAnaheim, CA

June 24, 2013 9:38 a.m.

Nothing great about being second choice when the only reason you were chosen was
to be cannon fodder for the big boys of the conference to pad their conference
win totals.

Eventually, those perpetual losing, bowl-less seasons
will become tiresome, even for the kids on the hill, and the only thing
you'll have left to beat your chests about are your fading PAC 12 t-shirts.

Howard S.Taylorsville, UT

June 24, 2013 9:31 a.m.

@BryceDeMann

If TV coverage against a lackluster schedule is the
objective... Congratulations... you win.

Howard S.Taylorsville, UT

June 24, 2013 9:15 a.m.

@thebigsamoan

Nothin wrong with being second choice... as long as you
get chosen... An outcome that does not appear likely for BYU.

spokalooAdin, CA

June 24, 2013 9:09 a.m.

The Utah fans piling on BYU because of the November scheduling challenges is
hilarious. Yes, it is tough for BYU to schedule as one of the few independents.
It would however be impossible for Utah. They could not go independent. Not
enough clout or fan base. I know you don't have to worry about it. You
got invited to the PAC 12 due to lack of options.

Everyone know
that BYU would have been in the PAC 10 or Big 12 in the 1980's if not for
their religious affiliation and associated limitations. Utah fans hang their
hat on 4-5 good seasons in their history. Talk to me when you been relevant for
40-50 years (see BYU's 5th highest winning percentage of any team since
1970, and 13th highest average ranking of any team since 1970).

Howard S.Taylorsville, UT

June 24, 2013 9:08 a.m.

@ Y Grad / Y Dad

BYU fans crowing that CO did what their team
can't do has to be the lamest form of smack...

But hey...
it's Monday so I'll cut you some slack.

Ernest T. BassBountiful, UT

June 24, 2013 8:50 a.m.

They should schedule USU, utah and Weber in November.

thebigsamoanRichmond, VA

June 24, 2013 8:50 a.m.

@ Howard S,

"Utah's games are all on a perpetual home and
home basis." You have no argument from me there, dude! But
don't pretend that anyone knows you got that because of anything deserving
you did on the field in the Pac 12. The Utes and the Buffaloes were invited to
fill a purpose and a need in that conference period, solely out of necessity
after the other programs rejected the original invitations. You know it, we
know it, and the Pac 12 knows it too. So until you have actually done something
that is worth bragging and pounding your chest about in your new conference,
please don't pretend you have already. I do like the Utes a lot and follow
them except when they play BYU, but I'm tired of the constant put down and
deliberate disrespect.

ekuteLayton, UT

June 24, 2013 8:43 a.m.

And you lose both at RES and les. lol.

Go Utes.

Y Grad / Y DadRichland, WA

June 24, 2013 8:16 a.m.

Howard

So U can lose both at RES AND in Colorado.

Howard S.Taylorsville, UT

June 24, 2013 7:45 a.m.

@Beck to Harline

Wisconsin is part of 2 for 1 deal. ND is part of a
4 for 2 deal with no schedule for retun games to Provo.

The big boys
will occasionally play BYU, even in November... they just won't do it on a
straight up home and home basis.

Utah's games are all on a
perpetual home and home basis

BryceDeMannMurray, UT

June 24, 2013 7:27 a.m.

Howard S, Are you being serious about that question? With the help espn gives
BYU they are on national television all throughout the year even when they play
the no name teams. Other teams in this state can play USC, Wisconsin, UCLA,
Washington, etc and the best they can do is a regional root sports broadcast.
Better to be the team complaining about blowing out n names, than to be the
cellar dweller no name getting pounded by USC, Oregon, Stanford. Utah should
have a great november schedule. But no one outside Salt Lake will even notice.

If you honestly
think that Utah's November schedule is THAT much stronger than BYU's,
strong enough that you would take time out of your undoubtably busy day, to
comment first on a BYU article, then by all means, comment away.

From
my standpoint, it looks like BYU has the tougher November schedule, especially
considering the away games in Madison and South Bend (Utah's definitely
gonna have a tough game in Autzen as well).

I like BYU's
schedule this year. I hope we put out a team worth bragging about at the end of
the season, unlike the letdowns we've had the best two years. I hope BYU
gets a W in the last Holy War that matters. Nothing is more embarrassing to
Cougar fans than consistently losing to the Utes.

Go Cougs!Go
Utes! (except on September 21st, of course)

Denver2PortlandDenver, CO

June 24, 2013 1:30 a.m.

What BYU needs to do is what Notre Dame did before they did a deal with the ACC.
BYU needs to find about six or seven schools they know they can count on each
year they can play anytime of the season, including November. Example, like What
Notre Dame has/had with USC, Stanford, Pitt, B.C., etc.

If BYU can
get teams out west with credibility and good competition such as Boise State,
Houston or SMU, Utah State, Air Force, San Diego State, Oregon State, and
Nebraska and play them every year, that would solve many of the scheduling
issues.